Clean or Lean Plate Club

Published: September 22, 2004 12:00 AM

A few years ago when I began writing my weekly nutrition related column, I was not sure how readers would accept my message. Nutrition is a difficult topic to read about because it relates to a very personal human behavior, eating.I have learned that there are few things that are not discussed in public, such as: politics; religion; college football (especially if you are not a Buckeye fan); and what you put in your mouth. Recipes and restaurants are OK to talk about but how you eat is a sacred topic; it is very personal.Some people gobble their food, while others graze throughout the day. Some folks eat like birds and some folks eat like buffalos. Stress can drive some people to drown their sorrows in cheesecake; while others are so wrapped up in their troubles that their stomach feel strangled.Many of our eating habits can be traced back to The Great Depression. During the early 1930s our parents and grandparents had little money to buy food. Eating a big meal was a luxury. Those who lived on farms fared better than others. Food scarcity was a reality and a mind-set regarding eating was developed.If you had meat on the table, you were rich. The more food, the more fortunate you were. Prosperity could be determined by the quantity of the larder.Throughout the years, a full kitchen cupboard was insurance that the family would not go hungry again. Since food had once been a precious commodity, parents taught their kids to clean their plate and not waste a morsel. Those kids taught their kids the same lesson. In turn, those kids taught their kids the same thing. Following The Great Depression generations of kids have belonged to the Clean Plate Club. This dining phenomenon has been so successful that this concept has contributed to the growing number of people whose health is threatened by cleaning their plates.Instead of the Clean Plate Club, what about initiating the Lean Plate Club? The key to The Lean Plate Club is portion size. Lean Plate Club members can also belong to the Clean Plate Club. In fact, cleaning one's Lean Plate is an important concept that assures adequate vitamins and minerals. Look at the palm of your hand. The protein source on a Lean Plate needs to be this size. The Food Guide Pyramid recommends that Americans need 6 to 11 servings of a grain product a day. One Lean Plate serving is the size of one half of a tennis ball. At least five half cup portions of fruits and vegetables are needed everyday. Portion size is the key to The Lean Plate Club.Think about how The Great Depression has affected your eating habits. I know that I am treading on personal ground but no one knows that you are reading this article. You can take a personal inventory of your eating habits without anyone being aware of what you are doing. Yesterday, did you belong in the Clean Plate Club or the Lean Plate Club? Lean Plate Club members control the amount of their intake. Lean Plate Club members practice portion control. They limit in between snacks. Lean Plate Club members make healthy food choices that are low in fat and sugar. Think about it. No one is in charge of your eating habits except you. No one can make you swallow if you do not want to swallow. I know that this is a personal subject but it is your choice to decide what you put in your mouth.If you have read to this point, I applaud you. This is not an easy topic to discuss in public or private. In conclusion let me leave you with one thought. If this idea speaks to you, let me know at this e-mail address, brandall@buehlers.com If you are one of the many members of the Clean Plate Club, think of yourself in front of a mirror. You are dressed only in your underwear. You have a plate of food in front of you. Your dining partner is yourself as you watch your reflection lift the fork. Clean or Lean Plate Club, you decide.Bobbie Randall is a registered, licensed dietitian with many years as a community nutrition educator, as well as long term care experience. You can contact her at brandall@buehlers.com